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Topic: Word(s) of the day (Read 25713 times)

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do His work and speak out for Him, to tell others the night and day difference He has made in you.

During my morning time with God today, I was reading in Romans. Although much (Most) of my reading this past year seems to be in the old testament...THink of it as the strong foundation upon which the New testament is built and a pretty good insight into who God actually is, I love it there.

But yesterday, during a discussion with my pastor, he led me to another place, Romans. Now in my bible, I make notes, lots of notes. In fact Romans, chapter 8 is just a huge scribble from many different trips over the text where I seem to pull out something different, or I notice something that I hadn't before.

Although I went to the book specifically went to Romans to look over 8:31 to the end, where Paul points out that we are more than conquerors, as is often the case I then read the paragraph or two preceding the message, and that's where I noticed this:

Romans 8:26-27 26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.

I wrote an entire sermon as the spirit prompted me to do, Read it here:

6?I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

8 ?I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare;before they spring into being I announce them to you.?

29 He gives strength to the wearyand increases the power of the weak.30 Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;31 but those who hope in the Lordwill renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.

Commentary: So I was thinking of Joshua and Caleb...Remember those two? When Moses led Israel out of captivity by the Egyptians following Passover, they set about on a month long journey over to the Promised Land. But when Moses went up to the mountain to talk to God himself (W_O_W!), he came back to find the weak Jewish nation building idols and worshiping Baal again...Read: Not good!

God cursed the nation of Israel at that moment to wander now for 40 years in the wilderness (Desert). He did that so that none of the people who God had liberated from captive Egypt would survive to see the Promised Land. All save for three, and really only two. Moses would lead them there, but be caused to die on the banks of the Jordan River without ever crossing it. But while Israel was following a pillar of cloud during the day and one of fire at night all over that part of the world, Moses had dispatched spies, 12 of them, one from each tribe, to recon the lands that they would eventually have to occupy.Amongst them were Caleb who hailed from the tribe of Judah and Joshua, who would be the eventual general of the army of the nation of Israel. In Numbers, where Caleb is mentioned several times, it is noted that He was a man of 40 when he was dispatched to check out his A.O. and I believe Joshua was about the same. But then Numbers talks about him saying that 45 years had passed since then and the time that he was to cross the Jordan.

The scripture talks about the twelve Recon Marines gathered around in council and talking about their lands. Ten of them were scared. They had run up against mighty kings and great warriors. In fact I believe they had discovered the earlier version of the US Army's 75th ranger regiment, something that would make any Marine tremble!

Because they were weak, those ten died of a plague before the Lord, Numbers states, but Caleb and Joshua who had said, "Let?s just kit up and get this done," Were spared. Those two had faith in the Lord, an unwavering, unshakable faith, which giants and Army Rangers could not affect...Because they were Special Forces...And SF Fear no Ranger! (Or Jarhead, or squid, or whatever) I'm joking a bit here, but the truth is that no matter what they found, they knew that the Lord most high had this, and in that they placed their stock.

And at the sprite age of 85, that is why these men had the strength of youth and were able to still wield a sword and enter battle like a man 60 years younger than them...Think about it.

This is one glaring example of the promise in Isaiah 40:29-31 being fulfilled.Wanna be able to dance with your wife at 85? Want to pick up some loud-mouthed punk and slap him like he deserves to be at nearly 90? Have and practice faith...

I have faith......yet not even in my best of physical shape, could I lift you over my head nor shake you Don! Maybe toss you over my head ONCE with a Judo move, but shake like a rag doll a 6'-6" shoe wearing Hillbilly who's muscle weight out weighs my total weight.....YUP that'd be ALL GOD occupying my flesh and doing that work!

I have faith......yet not even in my best of physical shape, could I lift you over my head nor shake you Don! Maybe toss you over my head ONCE with a Judo move, but shake like a rag doll a 6'-6" shoe wearing Hillbilly who's muscle weight out weighs my total weight.....YUP that'd be ALL GOD occupying my flesh and doing that work!

Unwavering faith caused soldiers of the Bible to go through enemy lines and into their territory just to get water. I can?t recall exactly where but it has always been a strengthening reminder. The idea that they could fight to the point they are essentially unable to put down there weapons due to their hands being clinched to the sword. There is nothing that can stand against that kind of faith!

Ever have an errant thought? A temptation, or something that is evil that just doesn't fit with who you are?

I do, and an ex-Navy special warfare friend of mine who I call "Preacher" gave me a verse.

He used it in his early days when he was under attack, sometimes hundreds of times a day. Later as the word did its thing and armored him up and he gained success against the attacks, he used it less and less seldom. But it worked.

If you are a Christian, you will be under attack from a devil and his minions. They seek to make your life a failure in your eyes. Although you are saved by the Grace of a loving God, through the blood sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, you can be made to fail and sin. The devil loves to make this happen.

When you start to have more and more wins on God's side and fewer for the devil and evil, the attacks will come less likely. My friend, "Preacher" says it like this, "They will come from time to time to check the perimeter. If they find it all secure they will go away and wait to lay another trap." But in that, you win one for Jesus.

So here it is, Comes from 2 Corinthians 10:5

Casting down imaginations and all high things that exalteth themselves above the knowledge of God. Taking captive all thoughts to obedience in Christ.

Do yourself a favor, memorize that and start to say it the next time you see some bikini clad model pop up where you didn't expect it to. Say it and win.

A psychologist who is a strong believer told me something yesterday when I told him the verse. He said, "Well of course something like that came from Corinth." You see Corinth is a sailor town. It was a place of taverns with hookers on every street corner. It was a den of temptation where undoubtedly many a soul were lured to the lower levels of hades. You get off the ship you just sailed from some distant port and the first thing you see is betty grable posing on a corner and its off to the races... Corinth...

Personally, I am glad that Paul visited the church there and wrote that verse to the Corinthians. He gave me a word to strike down the devil's scout who probes at my perimeter.

God Bless all and may the word work its way through your spirit and soul.